Measles complications: the importance of their management in reducing mortality attributed to measles.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of rates of complications among cases and management of complicated cases on measles case fatality rates.

DESIGN

Measles disease surveillance.

SETTING

City of Gweru, Department of Health.

SUBJECTS: Children aged zero to 15 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Case fatality rates.

RESULTS

Measles case fatality rates declined from 47.6 in 1967 to zero in 1989. Between 1967 and 1978 respiratory infections were the predominant complications (66.5%), while after 1979 diarrhoea was the predominant complications (60.6%). A significant partial correlation coefficient was observed between rates of mortality among complicated cases and case fatality rates (r = 0.89, df = 20, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Good management of complicated cases may have contributed towards the decline in measles case fatality rates.